A
Adjustment Marks – Small scratches or file marks found on early coins where excess metal was removed before striking.
Alloy – A mixture of two or more metals used in coinage (e.g., copper-nickel, silver-gold alloys).
Altered Coin – A coin that has been modified after minting, such as by adding a mintmark or changing its date.
Ancients – Coins minted before 500 AD, typically including Greek, Roman, and Byzantine coins.
Anepigraphic – A coin design without any inscription or legend.
Appraisal – The process of evaluating the value of a numismatic item based on its condition, rarity, and demand.
Artificial toning - refers to the deliberate alteration of a coin’s surface color using chemicals, heat, or environmental exposure to simulate natural toning. This process is often done to enhance a coin’s visual appeal or deceive collectors into thinking the coin has developed an attractive patina over time.
Assay – The process of determining the metal content and purity of a coin or bullion piece.
Attribution – Identifying a coin by its type, date, mint, and other distinguishing features.
Authentication – The process of verifying the genuineness of a coin or banknote, often done by grading companies like NGC, PCGS, and PMG.
Aztec Coinage – Numismatic pieces related to pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures, often in the form of cast copper currency or tribute items.
B
Bag Marks – Small scratches or nicks on a coin from contact with other coins in a mint bag.
Banknote – Paper currency issued by a bank or government, representing a claim on a stored value.
Bar Cent – An unofficial, private token minted in the late 18th century in the United States.
Bas Relief – A sculptural technique where figures are slightly raised above the background, commonly seen in coin designs.
Beaded Border – A series of raised dots forming a decorative border on a coin.
Billon – A low-grade silver alloy containing more base metal than precious metal.
Bi-Metallic Coin – A coin composed of two different metals, such as the Euro or the Philippine 10 Peso.
Blank (Planchet) – A piece of metal prepared for striking into a coin.
Bonded Paper – A type of high-security paper used in banknotes to prevent counterfeiting.
Bourse – A marketplace where numismatic items are bought and sold, such as at a coin show.
C
Cameo Contrast – A proof coin with frosted devices and mirrored fields.
Cast Coin – A coin made by pouring molten metal into a mold rather than striking it with dies.
Certified Coin – A coin graded and authenticated by a professional third-party service such as NGC or PCGS.
Chop Marks – Small stamps added to a coin by merchants to verify authenticity, common in trade dollars.
Clad Coinage – Coins with a core of base metal and an outer layer of a different metal, such as modern US quarters.
Coin Alignment – A method of striking where the obverse and reverse designs are positioned in a specific orientation.
Coin Show – An event where collectors buy, sell, and trade coins.
Commemorative coin - is a specially issued coin designed to honor or celebrate a specific event, individual, anniversary, institution, or cultural milestone. Unlike regular circulation coins, commemorative coins are often produced in limited quantities and may feature unique designs, inscriptions, and finishes.
Condition Census – A term used to rank the finest known examples of a specific coin.
Consignment – Selling a coin through a dealer or auction house.
Countermark – A stamp or mark added to a coin after minting to revalidate or modify its usage.
Currency Note – A government-issued paper money unit, distinct from private banknotes.
D
Debasement – The reduction of precious metal content in a coin, often to increase government profits.
Demonetization – The process of removing a coin or banknote from legal tender status.
Denarius – A silver coin from ancient Rome, widely circulated for centuries.
Denticles – Small tooth-like projections around the edge of some coins.
Die Clash – A minting error caused when dies strike each other without a planchet in between.
Die Crack – A visible break in the die that results in a raised line on coins struck from it.
Double Die – A striking error where the coin’s design appears doubled due to die misalignment.
Draped Bust – A US coin design featuring Liberty with flowing drapery, used in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Ducat – A historic European gold coin used in trade.
Dutch Coinage – A category of coins from the Netherlands, known for their colonial and international influence.
E
Edge Lettering – Inscription or symbols stamped onto the edge of a coin, often for anti-counterfeiting.
Electrum – A naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver used in ancient coinage.
Encapsulated Coin – A coin sealed in a protective plastic holder by a grading service.
Engraver – The artist who creates the original design and details for a coin or medal.
Error Coin – A coin that exhibits a mistake made during the minting process.
Exonumia – Collectible numismatic items that are not coins or banknotes, such as tokens and medals.
Eye Appeal – The overall visual attractiveness of a coin, often influencing its value.
Emergency Issue – Coins or banknotes produced under extraordinary circumstances, such as war or economic crises.
Evasion Token – Counterfeit coins designed to look similar to legal tender while avoiding anti-counterfeiting laws.
Extra Fine (XF) – A coin grading term indicating light wear with strong details remaining.
F
Face Value – The nominal value printed on a coin or banknote, not necessarily its market value.
Fake Coin – A counterfeit coin produced to deceive collectors or the public.
Fantasy Note – A banknote designed to resemble real currency but with no legal tender status.
Field – The flat area of a coin’s surface surrounding the raised design elements.
Fiat Currency – Money that has value by government decree rather than intrinsic worth.
First Strike – Coins struck from a new die, typically having sharper details.
Flan – Another term for a blank planchet before striking.
Fractional Currency – Banknotes or coins with denominations below one unit of currency.
Frosted Devices – Raised portions of a coin with a matte finish, contrasting with mirrored fields.
Fugio Cent – The first official one-cent coin issued by the US in 1787.
G
Galvan – A large-scale relief model used to create coin dies.
Gilded Coin – A coin plated with gold for decorative or commemorative purposes.
Gold Standard – A monetary system where currency value is directly linked to gold.
Grade – The condition assessment of a coin, usually on a scale from Poor (P) to Mint State (MS).
Grading Service – A professional company that certifies a coin’s authenticity and assigns a grade.
Greysheet – The Coin Dealer Newsletter, a pricing guide for wholesale coin values.
Guilloche – An intricate, interwoven design used for security in banknotes.
Gutter Fold – A printing error on banknotes where part of the paper was folded during production.
Gem Uncirculated – A coin grading term indicating superior quality with minimal marks.
Gresham’s Law – An economic principle stating that "bad money drives out good" in circulation.
H
Hairlines – Fine, shallow scratches on a coin’s surface, often affecting its grade.
Hammered Coinage – Early coins made by hand striking with a hammer and anvil.
High Relief – A coin where the design elements are raised significantly above the field.
Hobo Nickel – A coin (usually a Buffalo Nickel) that has been artistically engraved.
Holographic Strip – A security feature in modern banknotes using reflective technology.
Holed Coin – A coin intentionally or unintentionally pierced with a hole.
Hub – A steel punch used to create coin dies.
Hyperinflation Note – A banknote issued during extreme inflation, often with very high denominations.
Historical Commemorative – A coin issued to honor a past event or figure.
Hub Doubling – A minting error where a design appears duplicated due to hub misalignment.
I
Incuse Design – A design element that is recessed into the coin rather than raised.
Indian Head – A common motif on US coins, particularly the Indian Head cent and gold eagle coins.
Inflationary Money – Banknotes issued with ever-increasing denominations due to inflation.
Inscription – The lettering or text found on a coin.
Intrinsic Value – The raw metal value of a coin based on its composition.
Iron Money – Currency made of iron, often issued during metal shortages.
Issue – A specific release of coins or banknotes, often defined by date and mint.
Imitation Doubloon – A replica of Spanish colonial gold coins, often used as pirate-themed souvenirs.
Ingot – A bar of precious metal, sometimes used as currency.
Irregular Planchet – A blank coin disc with deformities before striking.
J
Jeton – A token or medal-like object historically used for counting, gaming, or propaganda.
Jubilee Coin – A coin issued to commemorate a monarch's significant reign anniversary.
Judgment Note – A banknote issued during legal disputes or emergency financial situations.
Jugate Portrait – A coin design featuring two overlapping profiles, typically of rulers.
Japanese Invasion Money (JIM) – Banknotes issued by Japan during World War II in occupied territories.
Joint Issue – A coin or banknote issued collaboratively by two or more countries.
Jigsaw Note – A banknote that has been cut and reassembled from different notes.
Justified Wear – Normal wear on a circulated coin that does not diminish its collectible value significantly.
Judicial Countermark – An official stamp added to a coin to indicate its revalidation under new authority.
Jingping Money – A type of ancient Chinese currency associated with the Tang dynasty.
K
Key Date – A specific date in a coin series that is rare and highly sought after.
Karat – A measure of gold purity, with 24 karats being pure gold.
Klippe – A square or irregularly shaped coin struck during emergencies or sieges.
Knurled Edge – A coin edge with fine ridges, often used for security features.
Krause-Mishler Number (KM#) – A catalog reference number assigned to world coins.
Kettle Token – A British token issued in the 17th and 18th centuries for local trade.
Krugerrand – A South African gold bullion coin first issued in 1967.
Knighthood Medal – A medallion awarded for military or civil service by a sovereign authority.
Kushan Coinage – Coins issued by the Kushan Empire in Central Asia, featuring Greco-Buddhist designs.
Kopek – A subunit of Russian currency, historically issued in silver and copper.
L
Lamination Error – A mint error where the coin’s surface layer peels due to metal impurities.
Large Cent – A US copper coin issued from 1793 to 1857.
Legal Tender – Currency that must be accepted for the payment of debts.
Legend – The inscription around the edge or field of a coin.
Lenticular Coin – A coin with a holographic or optical illusion effect.
Liberty Head – A popular US coin design featuring a depiction of Liberty.
Lira – The former currency of Italy and Turkey, often issued in gold and silver.
Low Relief – A coin design where the raised elements are minimal in height.
Lustre – The natural sheen of a coin’s surface, affecting its eye appeal.
Lyons Mint – A famous medieval and Renaissance European mint producing high-quality coinage.
M
Milled Coinage – Coins struck with machinery rather than by hand.
Mint Error – A mistake in the minting process leading to misstrikes, planchet flaws, or die errors.
Mint Mark – A small symbol or letter indicating where a coin was struck.
Mintage – The total number of coins produced for a particular issue.
Morgan Dollar – A US silver dollar struck from 1878 to 1904 and again in 1921.
Monogram – Overlapping letters or symbols forming part of a coin’s design.
Medal Alignment – A striking method where the obverse and reverse are aligned in the same orientation.
Mule Coin – A coin struck using obverse and reverse dies not intended to be paired.
Master Die – The original die used to create working dies for minting.
Modern Proof – A specially made coin with a high-polish finish, struck with precision.
N
Numismatics – The study and collection of coins, banknotes, and medals.
Notaphily – The study and collection of banknotes.
NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company) – A major third-party coin grading and authentication service.
Nickel Clad – A coin composed of a nickel alloy over a core of copper.
Novelty Coin – A coin issued primarily for collectors rather than circulation.
Numismatic Rarity Scale – A scale used to determine the scarcity of a coin.
Noble – A medieval English gold coin introduced in 1344.
Non-Circulating Legal Tender (NCLT) – Coins issued with face value but not meant for circulation.
Neon Ink – A security feature in modern banknotes that glows under UV light.
Nodular Corrosion – A corrosion effect seen on older copper and bronze
O
Obverse – The front or "heads" side of a coin, typically featuring a national emblem or portrait.
Overdate – A coin where one date is stamped over another due to die reuse.
Off-Center Strike – A mint error where the coin is misaligned in the press.
Oath of Allegiance Token – A historical token signifying loyalty to a ruling authority.
Open Collar Strike – A method where coins are struck without retaining the planchet tightly.
Optical Variable Ink (OVI) – A security ink used in banknotes that changes color when tilted.
Octagonal Coin – A coin struck in an eight-sided shape.
Oath of Fealty Medal – A historical medallion representing sworn loyalty to a ruler.
Oriental Banknotes – A term referring to historic Asian paper currency.
Over-Mintmark – When a mintmark is struck over another due to die modifications.
P
Pattern Coin – A prototype or trial coin not intended for circulation.
Piedfort – A thicker than normal coin, often issued as a special collectible.
Planchet – The blank metal disc used to strike a coin.
Privy Mark – A small symbol added to a coin to signify special editions or mint designations.
Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) – is one of the most trusted third-party coin grading companies in the world.
Proof Coin – A specially struck coin with polished dies for superior detail and finish.
Proof Set – A collection of proof coins issued together, usually for collectors.
Paper Money Guaranty (PMG) – A third-party grading service specializing in banknotes.
Punch Marked Coins – Ancient coins made by stamping designs with individual punches.
Platinum Eagle – A US platinum bullion coin first issued in 1997.
Posthumous Coinage – Coins issued after the death of the ruler depicted on them.
Q
Quarter Eagle – A US gold coin with a face value of $2.50, minted from 1796 to 1929.
Quintuple Sovereign – A large British gold coin worth five sovereigns.
Quantitative Easing Notes – Banknotes printed as part of a government’s monetary expansion policy.
Queen’s Beasts Series – A series of British bullion and proof coins featuring heraldic creatures.
Quinary System – A monetary system based on units of five (e.g., 5, 10, 50).
Quadriga Design – A coin design featuring a chariot drawn by four horses.
Quetzal – The currency of Guatemala, named after the national bird.
Quarter Dollar – A US coin worth 25 cents, widely used in commerce.
Quid – Slang for the British pound sterling.
Quadrum Case – A square protective holder used for coin storage.
R
Radiant Crown – A design element showing a sunburst around a figure’s head.
Red Book – A widely used price guide for US coins.
Reeded Edge – A coin edge with small vertical grooves, commonly used for security.
Replica – A reproduction of a coin, often made for collectors.
Restrike – A coin struck using original dies but at a later date.
Reverse – The back or "tails" side of a coin.
Roman Aureus – An ancient Roman gold coin used in trade and military payments.
Run Number – A batch identification number printed on banknotes for tracking.
Rarity Scale – A ranking system for determining how scarce a coin is.
Raw Coin – A coin that has not been graded or encapsulated by a third-party service.
S
Seigniorage – The profit made by a government when issuing currency.
Series – A set of coins with a common design or theme.
Shekel – An ancient coin used in the Middle East, including biblical times.
Silver Certificate – A type of US paper money backed by silver deposits.
Slabbed Coin – A coin that has been graded and sealed in a protective holder.
Solidus – A gold coin used in the late Roman and Byzantine empires.
Specimen Note – A banknote used for training or archival purposes, often marked "SPECIMEN."
Strike – The process of impressing a design onto a blank coin.
Star Note – A replacement banknote printed to replace defective notes.
Sterling Silver – A silver alloy containing 92.5% pure silver, often used in coinage.
T
Token – A privately issued coin-like object used in trade or transit systems.
Toning – The natural discoloration of a coin’s surface due to oxidation.
Trade Dollar – A silver coin minted for trade in foreign markets.
Truncation – The cut-off portion of a portrait’s neck on a coin design.
Trial Strike – A test striking of a coin to evaluate the die’s performance.
Troy Ounce – A unit of measurement for precious metals, equivalent to 31.1035 grams.
Transitional Design – A coin design used only for a short period during a transition to a new type.
Two-Bit Coin – A term referring to a quarter-dollar (25 cents).
Tetradrachm – A large ancient Greek silver coin equal to four drachmas.
Tear Banknote – A security feature where part of a banknote is pre-cut to test its authenticity.
U
Ultra Cameo – A proof coin with strong contrast between frosted devices and mirrored fields.
Uncirculated – A coin that has never been used in commerce and retains its original luster.
Undertype – The visible remains of an earlier coin design underneath a restrike.
Union Coin – A proposed but never minted US gold coin with a $100 denomination.
Unique Coin – A coin where only one known example exists.
Unguarded Strike – A coin struck without a collar, resulting in irregular edges.
United States Notes – A form of paper currency issued by the US Treasury before Federal Reserve Notes.
Utensil Marks – Scratches on a coin caused by use as a spoon or other tool.
Uniface – A coin or banknote with a design only on one side.
Ultra-High Relief – A coin with an extreme degree of raised design elements.
V
Variety – A coin that exhibits a minor design difference from others of the same series.
Vignettes – Detailed artwork on banknotes, often depicting historical scenes.
Vickers Banknotes – Early experimental polymer banknotes tested in the UK.
V-Nickel – A US five-cent coin issued from 1883 to 1913, featuring a large "V" on the reverse.
Victory Note – A banknote issued to commemorate wartime success.
Vanity Serial Number – A banknote with a highly desirable serial number pattern.
Voided Die – A die that has been retired from use and defaced to prevent further striking.
Vault Cash – Large holdings of banknotes stored in financial institutions.
Vest Pocket Dealer – A small-scale coin dealer who operates informally.
Visigothic Coinage – The coinage of the Visigothic Kingdom in Spain and France.
W
Watermark – A security feature embedded in paper currency to prevent counterfeiting.
Whizzed Coin – A coin that has been artificially cleaned to simulate luster.
World Coin – Any coin issued outside the collector’s home country.
Wire Edge – A thin, raised rim on a coin, often seen on early minting errors.
Worn Die – A die that has lost detail due to excessive use.
X
Xenon Security Ink – A rare security feature in modern banknotes using light-reactive properties.
Y
Year Set – A collection of all coin denominations issued in a specific year.
Yellow Seal Note – A US banknote with a yellow Treasury seal, issued for WWII use.
Z
Zinc Planchet – A blank disc made of zinc, used for certain wartime and modern coins.
Zero-Euro Note – A collectible banknote issued in Europe with no monetary value.